Enclosure
COPY.
31475 FECO Pro 110 09
Report by the Acting Police Magistrate,
Honourable Colonial Secretary.
There have been four cases of Chinese Extradition since Ordinance 23 of 1897 was assented to by the Governor on 17th November, 1897.
2. The only important alteration in the existing law was effected by Section 3 (1) and (2) of the new Ordinance which provides that certified copies of depositions taken before a British Consular Officer in China under certain conditions may be received in evidence by the Magistrate.
3. Up to the present time however there has been apparently no difficulty in procuring the personal attendance of all the witnesses available for in no case have such depositions been tendered in evidence.
4. This is I presume due to the fact that in every case the crime alleged has been committed in that part of the Kwang Tung Province which is adjacent to Hong-Kong and has ready communication with the Colony.
5. In such cases the non-attendance of witnesses would in the absence of explanation have appeared somewhat suspicious.
6. I attach a Return giving full particulars of such cases as have occurred since 8th July 1897, four in all.
7. I regret that this Report has not been submitted